Cited by 290Impact of Technology on AdolescentsDigital Media and PhilosophyPersonality Traits and Psychology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 109 of the 111 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Are Social Media Ruining Our Lives? A Review of Meta-Analytic Evidence

Appel, Markus, Marker, Caroline, Gnambs, Timo·2020·Review of General Psychology

DOI 10.1177/1089268019880891

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

A growing number of studies have examined the psychological corollaries of using social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (often called social media). The interdisciplinary research area and conflicting evidence from primary studies complicate the assessment of current scholarly knowledge in this field of high public attention. We review meta-analytic evidence on three hotly debated topics regarding the effects of SNSs: well-being, academic achievement, and narcissism. Meta-analyses from different laboratories draw a rather equivocal picture. They show small associations in the r = .10 range between the intensity of SNS use and loneliness, self-esteem, life satisfaction, or self-reported depression, and somewhat stronger links to a thin body ideal and higher social capital. There is no indication for potential devastating effects of social media on school achievement; social media use and school grades are unrelated for adolescents. The meta-analyses revealed small to moderate associations between narcissism and SNS use. In sum, meta-analytic evidence is not in support of dramatic claims relating social media use to mischief.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/1089268019880891

Cites

109 of 109 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

A theory of social comparison processes
Festinger, L. (1954) · Human Relations · doi:10.1177/001872675400700202 · Cited by 20,926
Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education.
O'Shea, D. W., & Richardson, J. G. (1987) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2069964 · Cited by 15,197
The benefits of Facebook “friends:” Social capital and college students' use of online social network sites.
Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007) · Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication · doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x · Cited by 9,939
A power primer.
Cohen, J. (1992) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037//0033-2909.112.1.155 · Cited by 8,771
Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science
Open Science Collaboration (2015) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aac4716 · Cited by 8,515
False-Positive Psychology: Undisclosed Flexibility in Data Collection and Analysis Allows Presenting Anything as Significant
Simmons, J. P., Nelson, L. D., & Simonsohn, U. (2011) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797611417632 · Cited by 6,567
Methods of Meta-Analysis: Correcting Error and Bias in Research Findings
Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (2015) · doi:10.4135/9781483398105 · Cited by 5,542
Primary, Secondary, and Meta-Analysis of Research
GLASS, G. V. (1976) · Educational Researcher · doi:10.3102/0013189x005010003 · Cited by 4,890 · cited 3×
“Under these circumstances, meta-analyses appear to provide greater clarity (Glass, 1976).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Bullying in the digital age: a critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth
Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0035618 · Cited by 3,266
THE INTERPERSONAL THEORY OF PSYCHIATRY
&NA; (1954) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/00005053-195407000-00064 · Cited by 2,915

Show all 111 references

Research works printed but not linked: 8

Bangert-Drowns R. L., 1997, Meta-analysis of drug abuse prevention programs. National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph 170, 234
Lanier J., 2018, Ten arguments for deleting your social media accounts right now
10.1037/0003-066X.56.2.128 · DOI · Paper page
Plato, 1997, Plato: Complete works
Postman N., 1985, Amusing ourselves to death: Public discourse in the age of television
Turkle T., 2011, Alone together
Twenge J. M., 2014, Generation me-revised and updated: Why today’s young Americans are more confident, assertive, entitled—and more miserable than ever before
10.1017/S1754942600006799 · DOI

Sorted by citations

Items 201–290 of 290

Validation of the Farsi version of the video-game addiction scale for children: its associations with social media addiction, internet addiction and executive functions
Rabiei, N., Sadeghi, S., Ranaei, N., & Ghanbari, N. (2025) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-025-02792-z · Cited by 1
“Additionally, numerous studies have linked gaming and social media to adverse health outcomes [112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117].”
Effects of SNSs use and social intelligence on users’ subjective well-being
Dang, V. T., Wong, W. M., & Vu, T. T. (2025) · Journal of Trade Science · doi:10.1108/jts-12-2024-0070 · Cited by 1
From Scrolling to Learning: Exploring Social Media’s Impact on Academic Performance Among Adolescents and Young People
Rodríguez‐de‐Dios, I. (2025) · Lecture notes in educational technology · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-5658-5_79 · Cited by 1
Work Hard, Use Harder? The Longitudinal Association Between Work Addiction and Social Media Addiction in Full-Time Workers by a Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis
Zhai, J., Sun, R., Lam, L. W., Kam, C. C. S., Chark, R., & Wu, A. M. S. (2025) · Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking · doi:10.1177/21522715251379749 · Cited by 1
Crying in the algorithm: modeling academic stress via multilayer topic construction and ERA effect
Ding, L., Zhang, H., & Zhou, J. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1673559 · Cited by 6
Navigating the Information Overload of Instagram: The Role of Motivation and Gender in Shaping Life Satisfaction
Akkaş, C., & Turan, A. H. (2025) · Journal of Creative Communications · doi:10.1177/09732586251383270 · Cited by 1
“Supporting this framework, recent meta-analytical studies (Appel et al., 2020) have indicated that highly visual platforms such as Instagram may exacerbate dissatisfaction due to unattainable lifestyle portrayals.”
INVESTIGATION OF DIGITAL WELL-BEING AND INTOLERANCE TO UNCERTAINTY AS A PREDICTORS OF NARCISSISM IN SOCIAL MEDIA 
Yavuz, M., & Kahraman, S. (2025) · ShodhVichar Journal of Media and Mass Communication · doi:10.29121/shodhvichar.v1.i2.2025.28 · Cited by 1
“…social media can facilitate genuine social connection, creative expression, and community building—all contributing to digital well-being Hoffner and Bond (2022)—it may simultaneously enable narcissistic behaviors that undermine authentic relationships and psychological health Appel et al. (2019).”
Volunteering for the greater good reduces individuals' dependency on news consumption during crises, improves quality of life and resilience
Gal, H. C., Singer, O., & Sela, A. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.100972 · Cited by 1
From platforms to features: A cross-platform framework for Social Network Sites and mental health
Masciantonio, A., Wormley, A. S., Kross, E., & Verduyn, P. (2026) · SSM - Mental Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2026.100601
How, When, and With Whom: A Study on the Moderating Aspects of the Association Between Social Media Use and Loneliness Among School-Aged Children
Schütz, R., Dadaczynski, K., Rathmann, K., Bilz, L., HBSC Study Group Germany, Anghel, J., Bargholz, K., Böhm, M., Braun, N., Dernbach, M., et al. (2026) · Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s41347-026-00605-7 · Cited by 1
Digital addiction and mental health-related variables in young people: A comparative study of Spain and Indonesia
Furlong, L. V., Romero-Rodríguez, L. M., & Winarko, H. B. (2026) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106716 · Cited by 1
Daily Relationships Between Adolescents’ Perceived Digital Well-Being, State Self-Esteem, and Affective Well-Being
Rosič, J., Vanherle, R., Lobe, B., & Vandenbosch, L. (2026) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1080/15213269.2026.2674018 · Cited by 1
Exploring personal digital media environments: a configural approach to digital stress
Zhang, C. X., Rice, R. E., & Fang, C. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1867928 · Cited by 1
Používanie sociálnej siete Instagram a psychologická pohoda u adolescentov
Šeboková, G., Fačara, V., & Širka, A. (2022) · Pomáhajúce profesie · doi:10.17846/pp.2022.5.2.13-27 · Cited by 1
Posting photos that reflect positive aspects of everyday life on Instagram increases appreciation, life satisfaction, and happiness
Smoktunowicz, E., Białobrzeska, O., & Jakubik, Z. (2023) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/14614448231193092 · Cited by 1
“Moreover, even when the findings do show negative associations between using SMS and health and well-being, these effects are very small (in the range of r = .10; Appel et al., 2020; Odgers and Jensen, 2020).”
Social media and student academic performance: A cross-country analysis using PISA 2018
Ji, Z., & Pang, J. (2023) · International Journal of Educational Technology and Learning · doi:10.55217/101.v15i1.687 · Cited by 1
Social Media und Wohlbefinden
Stein, J., Weber, S., Hutmacher, F., & Appel, M. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-66608-1_7 · Cited by 1
Self-citation
The role of digital device use on the risk of migraine: a univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization study
He, Z., Qiu, F., Yang, J., & Zhao, M. (2024) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2024.1462414 · Cited by 20
Social Media Advertising
Schwarz-Musch, A., Tauchhammer, A., & Guetz, B. (2025) · Business guides on the go · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-47100-2_3 · Cited by 1
Examining the role of psychological flexibility and unconditional self-acceptance as mediators in the relationship between new media literacy and psychological wellbeing among Gen Z
Lim, J. H., Ahmad, M., & Prihadi, K. D. (2025) · Journal of Education and Health Promotion · doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1077_24 · Cited by 3
The Association Between Problematic Instagram Use, Psychological Distress, and Wellbeing: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPreprint
Sepas, A., El‐Hussuna, A., Atıcı, S. D., & Yang, W. (2021) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3956428 · Cited by 1
Social media, societal changes, and mental health
Shawcroft, J. E., Gale, M., & Coyne, S. M. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-91497-0.00002-3 · Cited by 1
Posting on Social-Media Undermines Academic Performance and Well-BeingPreprint
Sayag, M., Most, C., Katzir, M., Luria, R., Kross, E. F., & Sheppes, G. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3805219/v1 · Cited by 1
Social Media and Well-Being: Impact of TikTok on Screentime and Sleep PatternsPreprint
Agarwal, S., & Ananthakrishnan, U. M. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4999028 · Cited by 1
Three objections to a novel paradigm in social media effects researchPreprint
Vuorre, M., Johannes, N., & Przybylski, A. K. (2025) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/dpuya_v2 · Cited by 1
Sosiaalinen media itsensä ilmaisun, sosiaalisen pääoman ja hyvinvointivaikutusten välittäjänä
Männikkö, N. (2021) · Janus Sosiaalipolitiikan ja sosiaalityön tutkimuksen aikakauslehti · doi:10.30668/janus.110631
Social Media and Quality Assurance for Teaching and Research Purposes
Oluwayimika, K. R., & Idoghor, U. (2022) · Global Journal of Social Sciences Studies · doi:10.55284/gjss.v8i2.716
Problematic Facebook use, psychological distress and well-being during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal investigationPreprint
Bonfanti, R. C., Salerno, L., Brugnera, A., & Coco, G. L. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2174638/v1
Unraveling Social Media Effects
de Vaate, N. A. J. D. B. (2023) · doi:10.5463/thesis.113
Digital communication technologies and mental health
Gugushvili, N. (2023) · Research Publications (Maastricht University) · doi:10.26481/dis.20230320ng
Understand the role of technology embodiment in facilitating social connectivity to address loneliness across the lifespan: A systematic review
Mois, G., Leathers, T. A., Murphy, A., Emerson, K. G., Washington, T. R., & Beer, J. M. (2023) · Gerontechnology · doi:10.4017/gt.2023.22.1.819.06
“…that social networking sites have a diverse set of functions that serve various roles, including but not limited to communication, opportunities for social interactions, sharing information, and supporting relationships (Aarts, 2018; Antoci et al., 2014; Appel et al., 2020; Batinic & Göritz, 2009).”
Background
The Association Between Different Digital Use and Young Adults’ Well-beingPreprint
Chen, Y., Zhang, X., & Akaishi, R. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3291346/v1
The effect of social networking sites on resistance training behaviour among college students: application of a mixed model based on the theory of planned behaviourPreprint
Wei, W., Su, R.-H., Chen, L., Meng, M., & Rongrong, Z. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3320382/v1
The Difference in the Degree of Harm Suffered by Extroverts and Introverts When They Receive Negative Comments on Social Media
Li, M. (2023) · Communications in Humanities Research · doi:10.54254/2753-7064/8/20231298
Analysis of the Duke Margiris infantry battalion's activity publicity in social networks
Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution, L., Jucienė, N., Macienė, J., & Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution, L. (2023) · doi:10.56131/tmt.2023.2.2.176
Media influence and knowledge of traditional stories in the written productions of primary school students. Evaluative research
Valero, A. L., Vivo, D. A., Martínez, I. J., & Fernández, E. E. (2023) · Aula Abierta · doi:10.17811/rifie.52.4.2023.309-316
“The narratives that students create today take into account video games, interactive texts, apps or other actions that they experience daily with the use of technology (Appel et al., 2020; Van Den Beemt et al., 2020; Von Gillern & Stufft, 2023).”
Background
Social Media Fostering Cybercrimes among Adults in Pakistan: Role of Lack of Empathy
Baig, K., Salman, M., Mirza, M. H., Ahmad, M., Hussain, A., & Ayyaz, S. (2023) · Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE) · doi:10.61506/01.00074
Історії, з якими ми виживаємо: когнітивне дослідження українських військових мемів
Bondarenko, I. (2024) · ILCEA · doi:10.4000/ilcea.19721
Les histoires par lesquelles nous survivons : une analyse cognitive des mèmes ukrainiens dédiés à la guerre
Bondarenko, I. (2024) · ILCEA · doi:10.4000/ilcea.19661
Senses, Thought, Connections, and Disconnections of a Divided Experience
(2023) · Advances in human and social aspects of technology book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-8228-5.ch004
Social-Media-Werbung
Schwarz-Musch, A., Tauchhammer, A., & Guetz, B. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-43990-3_3
Two decades of research synthesis on digital cultural education: A tertiary review_PostprintPreprint
Christ, A., Penthin, M., & Kröner, S. (2024) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/b92eg
Psychometric Indicators and Adaptation of the Ukrainian Version of the Social Networking Addiction Scale (M.G. Shahnawaz, U. Rehman Social Networking Addiction Scale)
Севост`янов, П. О., Yanovskaya, S., Туренко, Р. Л., & Pyvovar, D. (2024) · Visnyk of V N Karazin Kharkiv National University A Series of Psychology · doi:10.26565/2225-7756-2024-77-03 · Cited by 3
The Influence of Psychological Factors on Psychological Wellbeing to Advocate for Mental Health: Mediating Role of Perceived Social SupportPreprint
Wah, J. N. K. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5194422
Digital Addiction and Mental Health-Related Variables in Young People: A Comparative Study of Spain and IndonesiaPreprint
Furlong, L. V., Romero-Rodríguez, L. M., & Winarko, H. B. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5252824
The impact of social networks on couple satisfaction – A narrative review
Trifu, S., Cojocaru, A. M., & Pietreanu, A. C. (2025) · Journal of Educational Sciences & Psychology · doi:10.51865/jesp.2025.1.22
Lonely and online: An investigation of social media use and social isolation in China
Gainous, J., & MacDonald, A. W. (2025) · First Monday · doi:10.5210/fm.v30i6.14133
Just Ask Me About It! Antecedents of Vague Booking and Cyber-Gossip, and the Link With Psychological Distress
Cobzeanu, A., & Opariuc‐Dan, C. (2025) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/00332941251351248
Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescents: Testing the Spectrum and Connectivity Hypotheses Using a Network ApproachPreprint
Ruzzante, F., Gugushvili, N., & Verduyn, P. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5317147
When Social Life Moves Online
Westerman, D. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197689875.013.0014
Réseaux sociaux : quel est leur impact réel ?
Giret, E. (2024) · doi:10.64628/aak.gdd3ejaa4
Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Addiction and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms: A Meta-Analytic Review
Sheehy, M. R., Vora, T., Hiscock, B. B., George, A. C., Swab, M., Fawcett, J. M., & Fawcett, E. J. (2025) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1080/15213269.2025.2564698
“This may be especially relevant considering that large effect sizes are generally atypical in SM research (e.g., Appel et al., 2020; Meier & Reinecke, 2021).”
Media multitasking and academic achievement among different educational levels: a scoping review
Lax, M., Mölsä, M. E., Korhonen, J., & Söderberg, P. (2025) · Discover Education · doi:10.1007/s44217-025-01028-x · Cited by 4
“One review [34] has presented meta-analytic evidence from three meta-analyses and has found no indication of potentially devastating effects of social media on school achievement.”
Is it the Sharing, or the checking? Exploring the role of Instagram story views checking behavior in psychological well-being – a person oriented approach
Quilghini, F., Giannotta, F., Settanni, M., & Marengo, D. (2025) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08790-z · Cited by 1
Additional file 1 of How do Norwegian adolescents experience the role of social media in relation to mental health and well-being: a qualitative study
Hjetland, G. J., Schønning, V., Hella, R. T., Veseth, M., & Skogen, J. C. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14594174
Jóvenes, medios digitales y salud mental: prácticas, representaciones y desafíos contemporáneos [Presentación del monográfico]
Blanco-Ruíz, M., Pastor, E. M., Gonzalez, A. J., & Rosič, J. (2026) · Doxa Comunicación Revista interdisciplinar de estudios de comunicación y ciencias sociales · doi:10.31921/doxacom.n42a3511
Medien, Glück und Wohlbefinden
Appel, M., Winkler, J. R., & Hutmacher, F. (2023) · mediendiskurs · doi:10.65409/mlma2631106
Self-citation
Aprendre amb pantalles? Veus del professorat davant els efectes de la plataformització en l'educació secundària
Blanch, J. S., Wierzbicki, V., & Zárate, R. N. (2026) · Digital Education Review · doi:10.1344/der.2026.48.112-130
A cross-sectional examination of the associations between types of recreational screen times and flourishing among a large sample of adolescents
Tézier, B., Haddad, S. H. S., Bélanger, R. E., Dion, C. B., Leatherdale, S. T., & Turcotte‐Tremblay, A. (2026) · Public Health · doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2026.106192
Alone in the Crowd: An Investigation of the Factors Related to the Feeling of Loneliness in Social Network Sites
Alhuzami, N. (2021) · International Journal of Humanities and Social Science · doi:10.30845/ijhss.v11n8p15
Impact of Social Media Usage on Academic Performance in University studentsPreprint
Rahman, H. A., & Hamzad, R. S. N. N. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8922176/v1
Relocated children's adaptation in China's poverty alleviation resettlement: Challenges, influencing factors, and coping strategies
Jiang, X., Sun, Y., & Tang, L. (2026) · Habitat International · doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2026.103780
The role of neurobehavioral attention bias on relations between preference for digital media use and social anxiety symptoms across adolescence
Politte‐Corn, M., Myruski, S., & Buss, K. A. (2026) · Brain and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.braen.2026.100018
Spécificités des sites de réseaux sociaux et effets sur le bien-être subjectif
Masciantonio, A. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/57037ff3z6387z4f23zba21z1eded09313d6
Einsamkeitserfahrungen von Jugendlichen
Bücker, S. (2024) · mediendiskurs · doi:10.65409/eosb2831109
Missing the moment of change? A systematic review and re-analysis of multi-wave social media and adolescent mental well-being studiesPreprint
Lissens, M., Vandenbosch, L., Beullens, K., Geusens, F., Eggermont, S., Fahr, A., Maes, C., Vanhoffelen, G., Vranken, I., & Schreurs, L. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9428222/v1
An Opportunity Cost Framework of Digital Well‐Being
Kushlev, K. (2026) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.70144 · Cited by 1
Personality traits and motivational patterns of social media use among undergraduate medical students at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Lone, A., Aloraifi, F. W., Almulla, J. M., Almirza, H. A., Alotaibi, S. H., Elmosaad, Y. M. A., Khashram, N. A., Quadri, S., & Gani, N. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1813278
Developing an educational model of digital socialization to prevent internet addiction among university students in Kazakhstan
Niyazova, G. Z., Kerimbayeva, B., Berdi, D., Bazarbayeva, A., & Sadykova, S. (2026) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2026.1751648
Digital Life Balance and Adolescent Flourishing: The Mediating Roles of Life Satisfaction and Self-Esteem
Balgiu, B. A., & Radu, A.-M. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16060901
“When adolescents feel that their digital and offline lives are integrated, rather than competing, they may be less exposed to frustrating need dynamics, such as social comparison and the replacement of meaningful offline activities (Appel et al., 2020; Coyne et al., 2020).”
Instagram Use and Wellbeing: The Roles of Contingent Self-worth, Upward Social Comparison, and User Motives
Lopez, R. B., Moughan, E., KOUZNETSOV, S., Nephew, B. C., King, J. A., & Lee, D. S. (2026) · Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s41347-026-00659-7
Modern çağın tükenmişliği: Dijital bağımlılık, fiziksel ve psikolojik yorgunluğun mental iyi oluş üzerine etkisi
Okur, S. (2026) · Opus uluslararası toplum araştırmaları dergisi · doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1833561
Rethinking the Future of Technology-Based Behavioral Addictions
Kuş, Ö. A. (2026) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3373-6665-4.ch001
Social Media Addiction and Mental Health Among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A PLS-SEM Analysis with Study Discipline as a Moderator
Azazz, A. M. S., & Elshaer, I. A. (2026) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare14131862
“These outcomes are consistent with prior findings showing that academic capacity, study setting, and discipline-specific learning patterns can either intensify or buffer the psychological outcomes of social media use [57].”
The role of social media feedback in performance preparation, self-esteem, and anxiety
Hejjawi, L., Ryan, C., Hendricks, K. S., & Smith, T. D. (2026) · Psychology of Music · doi:10.1177/03057356261437000
An effort recalibration framework for digital media use and cognition
Wiradhany, W., Parry, D. A., & Aru, J. (2026) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02500-w
“Thus, effort is typically expended for one of two distinct but related policies that aim to maximize information gains: cognitive functioning 14,15 .”
Adaptation and validation of the Spanish Fear of Missing Out scale (FoMOs) in a sample of Spanish adults
Guilera, G., Greco, A. M., & Barrios, M. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-026-09750-x
Social Media is Shifting the Values in Our Societies: An Increase in People’s Achievement and Conformity Orientation
Uysal, E., Alavi, S. H., & Bezençon, V. (2026) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/01461672261461314 · Cited by 2
Love, Actually? A Randomized Experiment on AI Companion Use and Real-life Romantic RelationshipsPreprint
Jiang, J., Jiang, Z., Shi, Z., Srinivasan, K., & Loewenstein, G. F. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7198762
Social technology use and life satisfaction in a five-wave panel study of US adults
Kushlev, K., Moon, K., Motyl, M. S., Fast, N. J., & Schroeder, J. (2026) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02564-8
Beyond Text: Embodiment and Robots
Perry, A., & Cameron, C. D. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009639057.016
From Social Media to Empathic Artificial Intelligence
Rodriguez, M., Motyl, M., & Schroeder, J. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009639057.023
Social Media and Well-Being
Masciantonio, A., Gugushvili, N., & Verduyn, P. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-52643-5_167-1
A scoping review of the negative effects of digital technology on cognition
Žnidarič, U., Štrumbelj, E., & Machidon, O. M. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.101326 · Cited by 5
“However, comprehensive meta-reviews frequently challenge these extreme narratives, demonstrating that the aggregate effect of digital media on cognitive performance is often trivial and fears of widespread "digital dementia" are vastly overstated (Appel et al., 2020).”
The Relationship Between Problematic TikTok Use and Self-esteem: The Mediating Role of Social Comparison Among University Students in South Korea
Wu, Y. (2026) · Media Watch · doi:10.1177/09760911261489374
When Microaggression Goes Online: Social Media Addiction as a Mediator to Cyberbullying and Victimisation
Luo, Y., Wen, H., & Liu, Y. (2026) · Child & Family Social Work · doi:10.1111/cfs.70286
Media Use for Strong and Weak Ties: A Configural Examination of Personal Media System and Well-Being
Zhang, X., & Rice, R. E. (2026) · Communication Research · doi:10.1177/00936502261487784
Impact of Short-Form Videos on Screentime and Sleep: Evidence from TikTok
Agarwal, S., & Ananthakrishnan, U. M. (2026) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.2024.08260 · Cited by 3
Internet use time and happiness: Competing linear and curvilinear explanations across age, period, and cohort
Zhang, Y., & Chang, J. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.101403
The Critique Came First: Citation and Authorship Continuity in Academic Challenges to the Youth Social Media Harm Thesis Before and After Meta's March 2023 Notes
Gilly, T. (2026) · doi:10.68481/rs95tu

Authors: Appel, M., Marker, C., & Gnambs, T.
Affiliations: University of Würzburg (DE)
Johannes Kepler University of Linz (AT)
Corresponding author: Appel, Markus
ORCID: Appel, Markus
Gnambs, Timo
Venue: Review of General Psychology
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2019-10-16
Volume: 24
Issue: 1
Pages: 60-74
ISSN: 1089-2680 (ISSN-L)
1939-1552
DOI: 10.1177/1089268019880891
OpenAlex: W2981075629
Semantic Scholar: cbd4f71d3c79a5521394000d393dd6917cb231b8
Cited by: 290
References: 111
Citations by year: 2026: 43 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 14
FWCI: 48.71
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Review of General Psychology (publishedVersion)
Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (AP 207/2-1)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Social Sciences › Communication › Digital Media and Philosophy
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords: social media use, social networking sites, well-being, loneliness, self-esteem, life satisfaction, depression, thin ideal, social capital, academic performance, narcissism, adolescents, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Are Social Media Ruining Our Lives? A Review of Meta-Analytic Evidence

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks